Author: FC

Disclaimer: Totobobo mask is not certified as a medical device. The choice by the dentists /Doctors is based on their personal decision.

We all have the feeling that we get more tired after work in the Totobobo masks compared with the surgical masks, so I think we have to do in between some breath-exercises. The Totobobo mask is still much better to wear than the normal FFPs, our skin is less irritated. Anyway, they say none of the FFPs we get here is real FFP3 🙁 And you never know which sizes you get. Therefore mostly they don’t even fit. We just wear the Totobobo because the size can fit and better comfort for the skin. Regarding the size, all the women are wearing M/S, for man the L size. After the measurement, I think some of us women can use the L size, but the small is still fine.

Olivia (left) is 7 and Kalena (right) is 6. They love how the Totobobo masks look fashionable but mostly love how comfortable it fits.

Sheeka A.

This is one of the bright moments during the COVID-19 lockdown. I have been communicating with Sheeka over the email about the serious delay of postage service. She purchased the masks on the 21st of February and only got it on the 1st of May! It was a stressful time of waiting for both sides but I felt a big relief when receiving the confirmation of delivery eventually.

Two weeks later, I thought I just send a mail to check if everything is OK. And I got this photo – two adorable girls, Olivia and Kalena, they look so happy behind their Totobobo mask! This really makes my day 🙂

In the video below I demonstrate and describe the Singapore made Totobobo mask (also available in pink) with its replaceable filters (94 and Pro99) finding it extremely comfortable for daily use and suitable for running if masks are required. It is cleanable and is customizable for a good fit.

Review by Kent Soh, from Singapore. Date: 2020-05-06 after testing the mask since April 17th.

“I received the Totobobo mask and filters on Friday 17 April. The first impression was not impressed. It looked like a cheap flat plastic mask that would have a lot of leakage around the mask.

Took 2 days following youtube to getting the fitting of the mask right, without gaps. Remarkably, after putting it on and getting the right fit, the design and the quality of construction, and the instructions demonstrated it was the mask I had read about… Two thumbs up.

After putting it on and getting the right fit, the design and the quality of construction, and the instructions demonstrated it was the mask I had read about… Two thumbs up.

As a cyclist and jogger, I took the mask for a test run 10 km and test cycle 40 km on different days, been testing it for 14 days. My impression has changed.

Covid-19 impacted my life in many ways. We used to take the air that we breathe in for granted, but not anymore. It will change life as we know it in the world.

The Totobobo mask will be my choice. The mask with clear silicone with white filters. It is simple, well made, reusable, effective against viruses and other pollutants, and easy to breathe through. Simply, it is everything I could ask for from a mask that I use daily.

I highly recommend Totobobo mask to anyone without any hesitation.

I hope to test the new Totobobo mask with an integrated nose clip that comes with the PRO filter which is perfect for outdoor sports … it is out of stock currently. Appreciate it if there is a button for them to contact me when stock arrives.

Disclaimer – This is not a sponsored reviewer.

(editor: sign up to be informed of new stock:https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QSeO5NY3SdhsLyN5mh7TqlDgK7lIKk6DntBiQTcxG1Q)

We are very pleased to receive this photo of beautiful Sierenan, from her aunt Theresa. Both of them are very happy with the Totobobo masks they received recently and decided to buy more. Theresa told us that the Totobobo mask is the best after trying many different masks!

Big thank to Theresa for permission to publish her comment as follows:

“I thought I’d like the nose clip better but I don’t. I like the one without the clip because I think it fits closer around my nose. I’m African American and have a small/no nose bridge. The clip sits really high on my nose. I’ve bought lots of masks since the pandemic started.My niece and I love Totobobo the best. “

Precaution!– UV is very harmful to the eyes and can cause skin cancer. – Conceal the UV light inside an enclosed space. – Do not allow children or pet approach when the UV light is turned on.– Some UV light generates ozone, which is harmful to the lungs.

Testing our filters with the UV sterilizer, the F94, F96 and PRO+ filters.

Recently, we have received a couple of emails from our customers with the same question.

Can I use UV light to disinfect the Totobobo filters for reuse? Does the UV light kill the filter’s effectiveness?

These are interesting questions that we have yet to explore. UV-C devices (tube or LED) for decontamination are not difficult to find nowadays. However, there is an obvious concern that UV exposure may degrade the plastic filter material and it may kill the static charges embedded in the filter media, reducing its’ filtration efficiency. After all, we all have seen how plastic turns brittle after long exposure under sunlight. What if the UV device turns the filter media brittle? or somehow reduces the static charges in the fabric?

We decided to do a simple test to find out how does the UV light affects the filtration efficiency of the filter media? We use an off-the-shelf UV lightbox and conducted a simple exposure test on our filters (F94, F96, and Pro99).

The procedures of the tests as follows:

1: Perform a quantitative fit-test (TSI PortaCount Pro) and record down the result (fit factor=x) before exposing the filters under UV.2: Expose the filters under the UV lights3: Mount filters onto the mask4: Conduct the quantitative fit-test again under the same condition.5: compare the result before and after the UV exposure

How does the PortaCount machine works?The PORTACOUNT measures the concentration of these particles around the person’s head and then measures the concentration of those particles that leak into the respirator. The ratio of these two numbers is the “fit factor”. A fit factor of 100, for example, means that the air inside the respirator is 100 times cleaner than the air outside.

Remember, the main concern we had was whether the UV exposure would in some way deteriorate the filter’s electrostatic charge and degrades the efficiency and mechanical property. Read more below to find out!

Testing our filters after 1 hour UV exposer. All filters (F94, F96 PRO+) managed to achieve a fit factor of 200+. A rating of 200+ is the best result you can get!

We started the test off with a 1-hour UV exposure, to our surprise, the fit factor remained at the top level (200+), same as before the UV exposure. The fit-factor is determined by two parameters, (1) how well the mask fits the face, and (2) the filtration efficiency of the filter media. Since the first parameter is fixed (same person, same mask), a change of the fit-factor would indicate a change of the filtration efficiency.

This time, we tried to push it to 3 hours. Result remains very good.

We decided to push it further, to a longer time frame of 3 hours. The results remained the same, showing the filters are holding the performance at the top-level even after 3 full hours of exposure to strong UV light.

Ultimate test, 5 hours of UV light rays onto the filters.

Encouraged by the results we’ve gotten for the previous 2 tests, we decided to go another step further. We let the UV rays shine upon the 3 different sets of filters for an additional 2 hours, accumulated a total of 5 hours of UV exposure, and then perform the test again. The results remain the same! These filters are as good as new after a 5-hour under very strong UV radiation.

Frankly, we were quite surprised and impressed by the performances. Initially, we thought the UV radiation would destroy the filters and degrade its filtration performance. It turns out that the filtration efficiency is not really affected by UV light exposure.

In conclusion, filter efficiency is not likely to be affected by a few hours of UV exposure. (e.g. germicidal UV-C light) Such duration is more than enough to provide 4-5 times of 15 minutes UV-C decontamination sessions.

For additional safety, we recommend changing the filters after each visit to a high-risk area (i.e. crowded hospital). Disinfect the used filter with UV-C and rest for a minimum of 3 days in a clean space before reuse.

Precaution!– UV is very harmful to the eyes and can cause skin cancer.– Conceal the UV light inside an enclosed space.– Do not allow children or pet approach when the UV light is turned on.– Some UV light generates ozone, which is harmful to the lungs.

Healthcare workers are the unsounded hero of the ongoing war against the COVID-19 virus. Here in Totobobo, we are glad to be able to play a small part to bring happiness to this team of Austrian dentists. The story unfolded as illustrated in the following email exchange.

Everybody in our surgery says that compared with the FFPs they can breathe much better in the Totobobo mask, and you can stand it for more hours wearing it! And of course, you can fit it to your face, not like the oversize FFPs. So we are happy and we could start to work again, not leaving our patients in pain! – Dr Tünde Alföldi, Alföldi Dental System Kft., Austria

2020-03-30 from Dr Tünde Alföldi, AustriaHi, we’re dentists in Hungary and Austria. We’re at high risk because we spread saliva in the air during the procedure, and we have the Covid-19 in our countries. To buy medical masks is impossible, so we look for an alternative solution to protect our team. Which filters should we buy? Thanks

2020-03-30 from Tünde Alföldi drDear Francis, I`ve measured our team as you’ve sent me the form, we would need 4 big (L) TT-01 and 4 small TT-02 (S). This is not enough for all the team in Austria and Hungary, but in case we could preorder that amount would be great, and if you have more for delivery then we would like to order more. Do you mean replacing the filter after one day or after each patient? I have an Ozone machine, do you think instead of UV we can sterilize with that the filter? Thank you again and I`m so happy that you help us! Kind regards Tünde

2020-03-30 from FrancisHi Tünde,I’m not familiar with the Ozone machine and its effects. If it can disinfect a normal N95 mask without damage, then it should be fine.Ideally, you need to change the filter each time coming out from the ICU. However, if the resource is extremely limited, you can use the filter for the whole day. You need to be especially careful not to move between virus-carrying patients and other patients to avoid cross-infection.

2020-04-15 from Dr Tünde AlföldiDear Francis,We just got the masks yesterday because the Austrian custom did not want to let it through because we‘re not importers. But finally after paying a high custom and having long arguments we got it!Thank you for your help!Let me know when it‘s possible to buy more masks and filters, please!Kind regardsTünde

2020-04-15 from Francis (Totobobo)Dear Tünde,Wow, thank you for this cool picture, you look very professional! (is there a face shield flipped up?)Do let me know how your team thinks about the mask/filter. I’m eager to know.Stay safe and take care, Francis

Dr. Dr Peter Alföldi and Dr. Tünde Alföldi in full protective gear at their clinic.

2020-04-17 from Dr Tünde AlföldiOn the photo it‘s my husband:), and it‘s a face shield extra over the face. In case you want to advertise that you help doctors feel free to use that picture, we‘re very grateful to you! We got from the Austrian government 6 pieces of FFP3 masks for the whole surgery (we‘re 7 people), and they said you can steam-sterilize it- which actually could deform them, and they gave it only in one size, in the biggest, so it‘s mostly not fitting on the assistants’ face. In the shops they don‘t sell any FFP3s, so to get more it‘s impossible.

Everybody in our surgery says that compared with the FFPs they can breathe much better in the Totobobo mask, and you can stand it for more hours wearing it! And of course, you can fit it to your face, not like the oversize FFPs. So we are happy and we could start to work again, not leaving our patients in pain!

Dr Tünde Alföldi, Alföldi Dental System Kft., Austria

I send a picture of myself in your mask at work, your company can post it if you want, I´m grateful that I have Totobobo mask. In Hungary and in Austria they sell for dentists hand-sewed textile masks (one layer) and simple medical face masks for 10-times higher prices like usual. I send you a picture of their offer that you see how incredible it is. In Austria they want to restart the schools in the middle of May, I would order for my children masks-which filter you would recommend for that purpose?Kind regards, Francis, we are really thankful for you!

Call for entry of DIY ideas to reduce exposure of coronavirus:We are giving away 10 sheets of high-efficient filters to anyone come up with an idea to turn it into a design to help prevent coronavirus. We will also select some of the more promising ideas to publish here so more people can learn from the best. Please check our FaceBook page for how to join.

“Coronavirus could be spread by air-conditioning and may be more contagious than previously thought, scientists believe after finding traces of the virus in hospital air-duct.”- reported by DailyMail

In 2003 during the SARS crisis, the worst affected building was the Amoy Garden at Kowloon Bay. The virus was spreading to a cluster of bathrooms sharing the same drainage pipe.

Here is an example DIY project for a “bathroom drainage cover” to prevent the airborne virus from spreading through the share drainage pipe to your unit. The main components are the filter sheet and a plastic holder, which can be converted from any takeaway plastic box. You can use tape and/or rubber band to wrap the filter over the opening and sealed. Air coming from the drainage hole will be filtered by the filter before it can enter the bathroom. There can be a tiny bit of leakage at the base of the plastic box but most of the air will be filtered. The key is to reduce a significant portion of the virus and reduce the potential damage.

The photos are self-explanatory. If there is any question please leave a comment below. I’ll try to answer asap.

Cut a hole on the bottom of the plastic box. (The filter sheet is the white roll near the bottom)The filter box next to the drainage hole.

The filter box covering the drainage hole, stopping the virus from entering the bathroom.

Pauline’s 90-year-old mum and her helper wearing the Totobobo mask as they set off for the activity centre which mum attends 5 days a week.

Thanks to Pauline allowing us to share her letter and the photo of her mum.

Dear Francis,My family and I have found the mask comfortable although it is a bit fiddly to change the filter and adjust the straps. Everywhere I go, folks have remarked the mask looks comfortable. However, they flinch when they first hear the price but calm down after comparing this to the cost of wearing surgical masks daily. I will certainly spread the word about your wonderful product and am greatly puzzled why your product is not known to more Singaporeans who have been desperately looking for masks!Best regards,Pauline